The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has released the new Schedule of Income Ceiling which determines eligibility for state subsidized child care. It is effective for families enrolled after July 1, 2025. CDSS has also released the new Ranking Table to determine priority for enrollment in state subsidized child care for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
First priority for enrollment is given to neglected or abused children who receive child protective services, or who are ask risk of abuse or neglect based on a report from a legal, medical or social services agency. Second priority for enrollment is given to families with the lowest gross income. When two or more families have the same priority based on income, the order of admission is families with a child who has special needs, then family’s primary home language is not English, then the family who spent the longest time on the waiting list.
Families who are eligible based on receiving MediCal, CalFresh, California Food Assistance Program, WIC, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Head Start, Early Head Start, or CalWORKs are priorities based on income declared on the application for that program. (CCB 25-17, June 24, 2025.)